Ethics Panel

The ethics panel shall have the authority to issue advisory opinions on questions relating to conflicts of interest and the incompatibility of employment positions.

Established; membership: There shall be established an ethics panel consisting of three regular voting members and two alternate members. Two regular voting members and one alternate member of the ethics panel shall be appointed by the mayor with approval of a majority of the members of the city council, and one regular voting member and one alternate member of the ethics panel shall be appointed by the chair of the school committee with approval of a majority of the members of the school committee. A regular voting member or alternate member of the ethics panel may not hold any other city or school department office or position or be a member of any board or commission to which the city council or school committee has appointing authority.

Term of members; chair: The regular voting members of the ethics panel shall be appointed to staggered three-year terms. When the first appointments are made, one member shall be appointed by the mayor to a three-year term, one member shall be appointed by the chair of the school committee to a two-year term, and one member shall be appointed by the mayor to a one-year term. The mayor annually shall appoint one of the regular voting members to serve as chair of the ethics panel. Alternate members shall be appointed to three-year terms.

Role of alternate members: Alternate members of the ethics panel may participate and vote in ethics panel proceedings if a regular voting member is incapable or unavailable to serve in regard to a particular referral or is disqualified from participation because of a conflict of interest. The alternate member designated shall be selected by the chair of the ethics panel.

Powers and duties: The ethics panel shall have the authority to issue advisory opinions on questions relating to conflicts of interest and the incompatibility of employment positions...More info.